Train indicating apparatus



Sept. 1, 1931. P. P. STOKER TRAIN INDICATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1930 INVENTOR: P. P, Stoker- Sept. 1, 1931. P. P. STOKER I TRAIN INDICATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 16, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet mvcmoa; F, P S t o k er, l

l9 i i 2, when placed end to end with Fig 1 on the Patented Sept. 1, 1931 PAUL a;

arenas, on WrLirIn'sBURG; PENNSYLVANIA1-T ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION Application mm s, 1230.

My invention relates {to train indicating apparatugand particularlyto apparatus for indicating the number-of trains entering a given stretcliol track, and 'forindicating the nnmberol such trainsleaving such stretch of track, W I will describe one form offapparatus em bodying invention, and will. then point out the novel, features thereof in claims,

The-accompanying drawings l gs'. land left-, constitute'a diagrammatic view show; ing" one form ofapparatus embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 illustrates partsof the apparatus associated with a trackway, and' 1 illustrates parts of the apparatus which. are grouped in some central location such forexample, a sfla train despatchers paratussliown in Fig. 2. v I

Referring to the drawing reference characters ,l and 1?, shown in Fig. QQdesignate the ck rails or a stretch M of railway track which is connected with a passingsiding'or other auxiliary track N by means of switches J me J17. As indicated by the arrows, eastbound 'tral'lic, that is; tral'lic proceeding from lei; to right as shown in the drawings, moves over stretch M whereas westbound trafiic moves over auxiliary track N. Rails land flare divided by insulated joints 2 into appreach sections a A and f-F, switch 'sec (ions OiAo-G and DFH, main detector track section C'D',and auxiliary detector ction Each of these track sec- 1 ens is providedwith a. track circuit which is snpi I ed with current by a battery 3 con- .across the rails 'adjacent one end of thesection, and which includes a relay desianated by the reference character R with a distinguishing exponent and connected acr the railsadiacent tlie opposite end of he ,.ect1on.

slow-release relay 7'' controlled by *ontactscii relays R and and hence as a repeater for tlieso two relays. A sl "iv-release relay 1* is si'nii larly controlled by 1 out contacts of relays R and R and. hence serves as a repeater for these two relays.

A "directional stick relay, 1 is proi ided oliice and which are controlled by the ap Tan a innrca'rme ums Serial no. 421,144

with a pick-up circuit by'which it becomes energized when an eastbound train enters section I) FH Relay 1? continues energized by its stick circuit while the eastbound trainis moving through section D'F-H. A directional stick relay I issimilarly controlled when a westbound train en'ters'section CAG and whilethe westbound train is passing'through this section. r A Westbound arrival code control relay T becomes energized when a westboundtrain having entered section GH, moves out of section Del -H. An eastbound arrival code control relay T similarly be'comesenergized when an eastbound train, having entered section C'D, moves out of section An eastbound departure code control "relay Y becomes energized when an eastbound trainenters section A westbound contacts of relays T and T respectively, and 1 therefore serve as repeaters for these two relays. .Relays 3 andg are controlled by front contacts of relays Y and Y respectively;ancl therefore serve as repeaters for these relays. Each of the relays t 25 g and is so constructed as to be slow in lifting its contacts after becoming energized.

code transmitting device E is located adjacent switch Jfland a similar code transmitting device E is located adjacent switch I. Transmitter E. is so cont-rolled by re lays t and T? that when a westbound train entering stretch N leaves section D'-'-FH, transmitter E, for a brief period of time, supplies current of a given code to line conductors 8 and 9. Transmitter E is so controlled by relays and Y that when a westbound train passing through section GH enters section" C'-AG, transmitter E supplies conductors 8 and 9 with current of a second given code; Transmitter E being also controlled by relays t and T, sup plies conductors 8 and 9 with current of a third codewhen an eastbound train'moving through section I G -D leaves section CAG. Transmitter E being also controlled by relays y and Y supplies con- .ductors8 and 9 withcurrent oi a fourth code When -;an eastbound .train moving through section CD enters section D'F--H. At the despatchers oifice, selectors designatd 'by the reference characters S S S 'and""S ,""respectively, "are connected across conductors'S and 9.- Each of these selectors comprises a wmdmg 34 and a contact 35 I V which is controlled by winding 34 and which becomes closed when current of a code, to which the selector responds, is supplied to its winding 34.- Selector S is controlled by current of the first code, selector S is controlled by current of the second code, selector S is controlled by current of the third codeyand selector S -is controlled by current ofthe fourth code. v

. AnindicationrelayK is controlled by selector S when a normal contact 37 ot a polarized relay L? is closed. A secondindication relay K is controlled by selector S v when a reverse contact 37 of polarized relay L is closed and a normal contact of a second polarized relay L is closed. A third indication relay K is controlled by selector S when reversecontacts of relays L? and L are closedand a normal contact of a third polarized relay L is closed. Selector S similarly controls indication relays P, P andP according to the position ofthe polar contacts of relays Q}, Q andQ respectively. Relays L L and L are'energ'ized inthe normal or the reverse direction according as relays K K or K respectively,.are deenerglzed or energized .7 Relays Q Q and Q are-likewise energlzedm the normal or the 40- reversedirection according as relays P, P or P respectively, are deenergized or energizedm 1 a v.

Relays K K and K control indicators,

. hereshown as electric lamps e 6 and 6 respectively, which are mounted in ,a diagram or model a of track N. ,S1milar lndicators ,designatedefl c and e are mounted in theportion' m; of the diagram or model representing "track M, and arecontrolled exactly similarly-to lamps e 0 and 'c 'by means of a group of relays not shown, which are controlled-by'selectors S and S exactly similarly to the manner in which relays K, L, P and Q: are controlled by selectors S andS?.' I T to Having described, in general, the arrangement,*location:and operation of the various parts comprising-my invention, I will now trace in detail the. operation of the apparatus. f i

As shown =.in the 'drawings, anpaa are vin theirnormal. condition, that is, alltrack sections are unoccupied, and hence all relays 'Rfareenergized. "With relays R and 'R energized, relay 1' is energized by its circuit passing from terminal B of a current source not shown in the. drawings, through contact 4 of relay R contact 5 of relay R and the winding of relay 7, to terminal 0 of the same source of current. Relay r is also energized by itsrcircuit passingfrom terminal B, through contact 6 ofrelay R contact 7 of relay R and the winding of relay 7? to terminalo. I c

,R-elay L is energized in the normal direction by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 40 of relay K and the normal winding or relay L to terminal 0.

Relays L and L are also energized in the normal direction by similar circuits controlled by contacts 40 of relays K and K respectively. Relay Q is energized in the normal direction by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 46* of relay'P and the normal winding of relay Q} to ter- 'n'nnal 0. Relays Q and Q are energized 1n the normal direction by exactly similar circuits which are controlled by contacts 46" I of relays P and P respectively.

I will now' assume that a westbound train enters section 'f-F, reenerginzing relay R which in turn deenergizes relay 1. With relay 1 deenergized, relay I continues deenergized when the train enters section H DF-H. When the train, after entering sectionG l-l, moves out of section DFH, relay T becomes energized by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact tact 12 of relay I and the winding of relay T? to terminal 0. Relay '1 upon becoming energized closes its contacts 28 and 31. With contact 28 closed, relay 6 becomes '10 of relay R contact 11 of relay R conenergized by itsrcircuit passing from termitransmitter E to terminal 0. During the a brief period'before contact 30 opens, after contact 31 of relay T has closed, code transmitter E supplies current of the first code to conductors 8 and 9, causing selector S to close its contact 35.

Relay K thenbecomes energized by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 35 of selector S wire 36, contact 37 of relay L and the winding of relayK to terminal 0. When contact 30 of relay t opens, code transmitter E ceases supplying currentof the first code to conductors 8 and 9, and hence contact 35 of selector S opens, 7

but relayK continues energized by its stick circuit passing from terminal B, through a contact 38 of relay P contact 39 of relay K and thewinding of'relayK to terminal 0. Relay 1' after a brief period, permits its Relay K upon becoming energized, causes lamp to become lighted by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 41 of relay'K and lamp 6 to termmal 0.

Relay K upon becoming energized, also completes a reverse control circuit for relay L passing from terminal B, through contact 40 of relay K and the reverse control winding of'relay L to terminal 0. Relay L then Opens its contact 37 and closes its contact 37 If, now, a second Westbound train follows the first train into stretch N, causing code transmitter E to again supply current of the first code to conductors 8 and 9, selector S again closes its contact 35, this time comp eting the pick-up circuit for relay K passing 1 from terminal B throu h contact 35 of se- (a c to terminal 0.

lector S wire 36, contactc37 of'relay L contact 87 of relay L and the winding of ielay K to terminal 0. Relay K then continues energized by its stick circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 38 of relay P contact 39 of relay K and the winding oit relay K to terminal 0. Relay K upon becoming ener ized, causes lamp 6 to become lighted by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact l]. of relay K and lamp Relay K upon becoming energized, also causes relay L to be energized in the reverse direction by its reverse control circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 40 of relay K and the reversecontrol Windingof relay L to terminal'o Relay L then opens its contact 37 and closes its contact 37.

If, now, a third Westbound train enters stretch N, causing code transmitter E to again supply current ofthe first code to conductors 8 and 9, selector S again closes its contact 35, this time completing the pickup circuit for relay K passing from terminal B,

through contact of selector S wire 36,

contact 37 of relay Lflcontact 37 of relay L contact 37 of relay L and the winding of relay K to terminal 0. Relay K then continues energized by its stick circuit which is controlledby contact 38 of relay P Belay K ,;upon becoming energized, causes lamp ,6 to become lighted by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 41 6f relay K and lamp 6 to terminal 0. Belay K upon becoming energized, also causes relay L tO become energized in the reverse dircction by its reverse control circuit passing froin terminal B, through contact ofrelay K and the reverse control'winding of relay L to terminal 0. i

When, now, the first train upon starting to leave stretch N enters section C -AG, relay I becomes energized by its pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 22,0frelay B contact 23 of relay 7*, and the winding of relay I to terminal '0.

contact 23 to open but relay P then continues encrgizedby its stick circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 22' oi relay R contact 240i relay I and the winding of: relay 1 to terminal 0. Relay 1 upon be-i coming energized, completes at its contact 18 the circuit for relay Y passing from tel-mi nal B, through contact 16 of relay R contact 17 of relay R contact 18 of relay I and the winding of relay Y to terminal 0'.

Relay Y upon becoming energized, closes its contacts 29 and 33. With contact 529 closed,

relay becomes energized by its circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 29, and P the winding of relay g to terminal 0; A

Bela 'l 2 on account of its slow lCk-UT 1 characteristic, does not at once open its contact 32, and hence a circuit for code transmitter E is closed for a brief period, passing from terminal B, through contact 32 of relay g contact 33 of relay Y and code trans-= tor S wire 42,"contact 43 of relay and the winding of relay P to terminal 0. Relay P upon becoming energized, opens at its contact 38 the stick circuit already traced for relay K which then becomes deenergized, closing its contacta l and so completing a stick circuit for'relay P passing from terminal B, through contact 4 of relay K contact of relay P and the winding of relay P to terminalo. Relay K upon becoming deenergized, causes relay L to again beenergized by its normal control circuit which has already been traced. Belay L then again closes its contact 3?. Relay K upon be coming deenergized, also opens, at its co1rtact 4-1, the lighting circuit for lamp 0 which is thereby extinguished. Belay P upon becoming energized, causes relay Q to be cnergized in the reverse direction by its reverse control circuit passing from terminal B,-

through contact 46 of relay P and the reverse control winding of relay Q to terminal 0. Relay Q then opens its contact 43 andcloses its contact 43.

When, new, the second westbound train enters section CAG-, causing code can mittcr E to again supply conductors 8 and 9 with current of the second code, selector S again closes its contact 35, now completing the pickup circuit for relay P passing from terminal B, through contact 35 of selector 8", wire 42, contact 43 of relayQ contact 43 of relay Q and the winding of :relay P to terminal 0. Relay P upon becoming energized, opens, at its contact 38, the stick circuit for relayK which then becomes detact 45' offrclay P and the Winding of relay 7 P to terminal 0. Relay P upon becoming energized, causes relay Q to be energized in the'reverse direction by its reverse control circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 46? of relay P and the reverse control winding relay Q to terminal 0. Relay'K upon becoming deenergized, opens, at its contact 41, the lighting circuit for lamp 6 which is thereby extinguished. Relay K becoming deenergized causes relay L to be again energized by its normal control circuit as already traced. Relay L then opens its contact 37 and closes its contact 37 ,VVhen the third westbound train enters section CA,G,'causing code transmitter E to again supply current of the second code to conductors 8 and 9, selector S again closes its contact for a brief period, cans-- ing relayP to this'tiine be energized by its pick-up circuit passing from terminal B, throughcontact 35 of selector S ire 42, contacts 43 of relays Q} and Q contact d3 of relay Q andi-theIwinding ofjrelayf Pfto terininalo. RelayP upon becoming energized, opens, at its contact 38, the stick circuit for relayK which then becomes deenergized. Relay P now-continues energized by its stick circuit passing from terminal B, through contact 44 ofrelay K contact 450i relay P and the winding, of relay P to terminal 0.' Relay P ,upon'beco1ning energized, causes relayQ, to be energized in the re.- verse direction by its reverse control circuit which is controlled by contact. 46 of relay P Relay K upon becoming deenergized, opens its contact 41 thus causing lamp 6 to be extinguished. Relay K upon becom ing deenergized, also causes relay L to again be energized in the normal direction by its normal control circuit which is controlled by contact of relay K If,'now, a fourth westbound train enters stretch N, caus ng code transmitter E to again supply conductors 8 and 9 with current oi the firstcode,.-relay K again becomes energized by its pick-up circuit as already traced. Relay K upon becoming energized, breaks the stick circuit alreadytraced for relay P which then becomcsdeenergized, and relay- K then continues energized bv its stick circuit formerlv traced. Belay'K now causes lamp 6 to be lighted and relay L to be energized in the reverse direction as already From the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings, it is clear thatapparatus embodying my inventioncoinprises means for checking trains into and out of any given territory and for indicating at any time the number of trains Within such territory. Although, for the sake of'siinplicity, I have shown apparatus for indicating only three trains at a time for a given stretch of track, it should be noted that additional indicators can be provided forindicating understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope. of the appended claims withoutgdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 7 I claim is 1. In combination, a railway passing siding connected at each of its ends with a main track by means of a trackswitch, a track circuit for said siding including a'track 'i'elay, a switch track circuit; including the first er said switches and' a track relay, an approach track circuit adjoining said switch track circuitand including a track relay,a slow-release relay ccntr'olledby front-contact of said switch track relay and by a front contact of said approach track relay, a stick relay, a pickup circuit for said stick relay controlled by a 'front contact of said slower-elease relay and by a back contact of said switch track relay, a stick circuit for said stick relay controlled by a back contact of said switch track relay, an indication means, means controlled by a back contact of said stick relay and by a back contact of said siding track relay as well as by a front contact of said switch track relay for energizing said indication means, a second switch track cir-. cuit including the second of said'jsivitches, and means controlled by said. second, switch track circuit for deenergizing said indication means. 7

2. In combination, a stretch/of railway track, a detector track circuit'for said stretch including a track relay, an approachtrack circuit for said stretch including a track relay. a second approach track circuit between said first approach track circuit and :said detector" circuit, a slow-release relay con trolled by said second approach track relay and by said first approach track relay, a stick relay, a pickup circuit forsaid stick relay controlled by said slow-release relay and by said second approach track relay, astick circuit for said stick relay controlled'by said second approach track relay, indication means, and means controlled by said stick track, a detector track circuit for said stretch including a track relay, an approach track circuit for said stretch including a'track relay, a second approach track circuit between said first approach track circuit and said detector track circuit,-a slow-release relay controlled by said second approach track relay and a by said first approach track relay, a stick relay, a'pick-up circuit for said stick relay controlled by said slow-releaserelay and by said second approach track relay, a stick circuit for said stick relay controlled by said second approach, track relay, indication means, and means controlled by said stick relay and by said detector track relay as well as by a front contact of said second approach track relay for controlling said indication means. a

4. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a first and a second stick relay, a first and a second polarized relay, trafiic controlled means for energizing said first stick relay when a train enters said stretch while a normal contact of said first polarized relay is closed, a stick circuit for said first stick relay controlled b a back contact of said second stick relay, a normal control circuit for said first polarized relay controlled by a back contactof said first stick relay, a reverse control circuit for said first polarized relay controlled by a front contact of said first stick relay, trafiic controlled means for energizing said second stick relay when a train leaves said stretch while a normal contact of said second polarized relay-is closed, a stick circuit for said second stick relay controlled by a back contact of said first stick relay, a normal control circuit for said second polarized relay controlled by a back contact of said second stick relay, a reverse control circuit for said second polarizedrelay controlled by a front contact of said second stick relay, an

indication means controlled by said first stick relay, and an indication means controlled by a reverse contact of said first polarized relay and by a reverse Contact of said second polarized relay.

5. In combination, a stretch of railway I track adapted to contain a predetermined number of cars, a series of relays corresponding in number with the number of cars said stretch is adaptedto contain and operated successively by cars upon entering said stretch, and means controlled by the last relay of said series forindicating when said stretch containssuch predetermined number of cars. e a c 6. In combination, a stretch of railway I track adapted to contain a predetermined number of cars, a series of relays operated in a predetermined order bycars upon entering said stretch, such of said reiays a are 'l'atr in-thei order of" aperaticn being 'ndiit fl lp Ol liith o eraticn or relays h earlier order ct eperatibn, and 'ineans con- ;iroile'dby'the relaylast inits c der of ing' an nan fro; 'indi'c 'atingjwlien said stretch cunta ns such redetermined number at cars. 7

. 7. Ii1 combination, stretch of stairwa ti-ac}; ada ted 'to contain a" predetermined v number of cars, ase'ri'es of main relays" 'QiJratle in a predetermined truer by. ,p entering said stretch, aserie's oi aiiiiiliaiy rela s, one associated with each of said main rela ys'and each adapted to condition a suc-- ceeding main relay for operation by a car upon the operation of the main relay with which it is associated by a preceding car, and a signal controlled by the last of said series of auxiliary relays for indicating when said stretch contains such predetermined number of cars.

8. In combination, a stretch of railway track adapted to contain a predetermined number of cars, means for indicating when said stretch contains said predetermined number of cars, a first normally energized relay controlled by the last car of said predetermined number of cars for controlling said indication means, a second normally energized relay controlled by a preceding car for controlling said first normally energized relay, and a third normally energized relay controlled by a car preceding said second-mentioned car for controlling said second normally energized relay.

9. In combination, a stretch of railway track, a first stick relay, a second stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said first stick relay controlled by traflic entering said stretch, a stick circuit for said first stick relay controlled' by said second stick relay, a pick-up circuit for said second stick relay controlled by trafiic leaving said stretch, a stick circuit for said second stick relay controlled by said first trolled by said second stick relay.

10. In combination, a stretch of railway track, an arrival relay controlled by trafiic entering said stretch, a departure relay con; trolled by traflic leaving said stretch, a first fic governing device controlled by said second stick relay.

11. In combination, a stretch of railway track adapted to contain a predetermined number of cars, an arrival relay operable by cars entering said stretch, a departure relay,

stick relay, and a trafiic governing device con "onerttlile eers legxyingsaid stretch; a first ,stick"relay, a second stick relay, a pickup v circuit forsaid first stick relayi controlled by said arrival relay; a stick circuit for said first stick relay control'led'by said second stick relay a pick-up circuitfor' said second stick "relay controlled by said departure relay, a

I stick circuit'for said second stick relay controlled by said first stick relay, and means controlled said second stick relay for in: dic ating when said stretch contains said pre- 7 determined number of cars. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

PAUL P. STOKERL 

